Page 4 - Supreme Court

Meghwal defends judicial autonomy, says courts must set limits on remarks

The law minister said the Constitution bars government interference in judicial functioning and that courts alone should determine the limits of oral observations

Delhi High Court notice to govt, CBSE on Class 12th marking system

The Supreme Court and Delhi High Court examined separate matters involving a withheld Class XII result and concerns over CBSE's On-Screen Marking system

Supreme Court makes tracking devices, panic buttons mandatory in taxis, public vehicles

The Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to strictly implement rules requiring vehicle location tracking devices (VLTDs) and panic buttons in taxis and other public service

Landlord not liable for tenant's environmental breaches: SC backs NGT order

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld an order of the National Green Tribunal which held that a landlord cannot be liable for environmental violations allegedly committed by his tenant's chemical unit. A bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Sanjeev Sachdeva refused to interfere with the Tribunal's November 14, 2025 order. The top court was hearing a plea filed by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) challenging an order passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which set aside its order that held a Surat landlord liable for environmental violations allegedly committed by his tenant's chemical unit. The NGT had held that owner Jagmohan Lachiram Jalan could not be made to pay interim environmental damage compensation of Rs 25 lakh for offences committed by the industrial unit operating on his rented premises. This case was initiated after a closure direction issued by the GPCB on October 16, 202, against a company involved in dye-intermediate manufacturing operation with

Accused can't be denied access to documents forming part of chargesheet: SC

The Supreme Court has said that an accused cannot be denied access to documents forming part of the chargesheet as withholding them could seriously prejudice their right to a fair trial. The observations came from a bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and A S Chandurkar, which directed that a typed copy of some "highly confidential" documents be provided to retired Major General V K Singh, who is facing prosecution in a case lodged in 2007 under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. The bench noted it was not the CBI's case that documents sought by Singh, who was also a former RAW official, were not relevant for the purpose of trial, and the only objection taken by the prosecution was that they were "highly confidential for the purpose of national security" and if its copies were supplied, there were chances that those may come out in the public domain. "It is trite law that an accused cannot be denied access to documents forming part of the chargesheet, including those fro

In historic first, 4 women now head high courts, but gender gap persists

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai's appointment takes the number of women heading High Courts to four, even as women remain underrepresented in the higher judiciary

Supreme Court issues contempt notice to AIIMS Director in DNA test case

The Supreme Court has issued a contempt notice to AIIMS acting director Dr Nikhil Tandon for failing to file an affidavit sought in a court-monitored DNA test case

Royalty payable at dispatch rate, not contract rate, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that mineral royalty is payable at the rate prevailing on the date of dispatch or removal, regardless of earlier contractual terms

SC releases draft rules for use of AI in courts, allows use with disclosure

The proposed framework allows AI-assisted legal work and court administration but bars the technology from influencing judicial decisions, bail determinations and sentencing

WFI plea against Vinesh Phogat's selection trials order 'infructuous': SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the plea of the Wrestling Federation of India against the Delhi High Court order allowing wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in selection trials has become infructuous in view of subsequent developments. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar, which refused to go into the observations made by the high court, said this court should not be taken as having reiterated the findings and observations made in the order. The bench said all the issues are left open. Senior advocate DN Goburdhun, appearing for the WFI said that Phogat was allowed to participate in the selection trial but she did not succeed. "She did not succeed but she created havoc over there," the senior counsel told the bench. The bench told him that the issue has now become infructuous. Goburdhun submitted that there were certain observations made by the high court with regard to decisions of the Federation and terming them "malafide" and "deplorable". "All these ...

SC forms high-powered expert panel to re-examine Aravalli definition

The Supreme Court has constituted a high-powered committee to conduct an independent review of the Centre's report on the definition and delineation of the Aravalli hill range and directed the panel to address what it described as "critical ambiguities" in the findings. The committee headed by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has been directed to submit a comprehensive report by August 31, 2026. The move comes months after the apex court, on December 29, stayed the implementation of an October 2025 report prepared by a committee chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The court had then emphasised the need for an independent body of domain experts to undertake a fresh scientific and ecological assessment. In its order, the court observed that a "fair, impartial and independent expert opinion" was necessary after consulting all relevant stakeholders to provide definiti

State-run NHPC's OFS booked 1.6x, HSBC MF launches Long-Short S

The Centre's NHPC stake sale drew strong demand, a Mumbai court summoned former Religare chairperson Rashmi Saluja, and HSBC MF launched its first SIF

Supreme Court swears in five new judges, strength increases to 37

V Mohana becomes second woman judge on SC Bench

Supreme Court strength rises to 37 after five new judges sworn in

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Tuesday administered the oath of office to five new judges of the Supreme Court, taking the strength of judges at the top court to 37, the highest ever. The CJI administered the oath of office to Justices Sheel Nagu, Shree Chandrashekhar, Sanjeev Sachdeva, Arun Palli and V Mohana as apex court judges. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the apex court premises. The strength of judges at the apex court will now be 37, one short of the upgraded sanctioned strength of 38. The Centre on Monday cleared the appointment of Justice Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Justice Palli, Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court and senior advocate Mohana as top court judges. The government last month promulgated an ordinance amending a law to increase the sanctioned strength of the apex

Supreme Court refuses plea to hold NEET-UG re-test in computer-based mode

The plea arises from the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, originally conducted on May 3, following allegations of a large-scale paper leak

SC refuses to accept plea to conduct NEET-UG retest in CBT mode on June 21

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to accept a plea seeking the conduct of the NEET-UG 2026 re-test on June 21 in computer-based test mode, saying the National Testing Agency is already faced with too many problems. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Aravind Kumar, which posted the plea by RJD MP Sudhakar Singh and others for hearing on July 27, refused to order the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, in computer-based test (CBT) mode instead of the existing pen-and-paper method. On May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak. The CBI is currently investigating the matter, and a retest is scheduled for June 21. "There is no question of conducting the re-examination in CBT mode. They (the NTA) are already having too many problems. The examination was cancelled, and now it is being re-conducted. Either we dismiss this petition now or after the ...

Won't allow senior advocates to argue during partial court working days: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would not allow senior advocates to either mention matters for urgent listing or to argue in cases listed on partial court working days. The apex court said it was being done to encourage young lawyers to argue their cases during the partial court working days from today till July 12. The summer vacation in the top court has been rechristened as partial court working days. This year, three to four benches would be holding court each week during this period. "No senior advocates will be allowed in my court," Justice Vikram Nath, who was heading a bench which also comprised Justice P B Varale, said at the outset. When a senior advocate tried to mention a matter, Justice Nath said he would not allow senior lawyers to mention the matter or argue in cases listed before his bench during the partial court working days. Justice Nath said he would only permit young lawyers and advocates-on-record (AoRs) to argue before his bench during this period. Whe

Five new judges appointed to Supreme Court, taking total strength to 37

Five new judges were on Monday appointed to the Supreme Court, which will now have 37 judges, one short of the upgraded sanctioned strength of 38. According to separate notifications issued by the department of justice in the Union law ministry on Monday morning, senior SC advocate Venkita Subramani Mohana, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, and Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court have been elevated as top court judges. Once they take oath and assume charge, the SC will formally have 37 judges. The government last month promulgated an ordinance amending a law to increase the sanctioned strength of the apex court to 38 from 34, including the Chief Justice of India. While there were already two vacancies, after the sanctioned strength was increased, altogether six posts became

Pocso Act applies if victim of commercial sex trafficking is minor: SC

The Supreme Court has held that cases involving the trafficking of children for Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) can attract charges under the stringent POCSO Act, alongside the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan on Friday issued a slew of directions to mitigate the concerns of sex workers, while clarifying the legal framework for the prosecution of perpetrators and the rehabilitation of victims. It said the consent of an adult victim to the intended exploitation is irrelevant if any of the listed "means," like the use of threat, force, other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power, abuse of a position of vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person, are used. "The consent of a child victim of trafficking is irrelevant, regardless of whether or not 'means' have been used... Lack of consent is no

SC sets aside Sebi's ₹447 crore disgorgement order to Reliance Industries

Supreme Court quashes Sebi's ₹447 crore disgorgement order against RIL in the 2007 RPL futures case, but upholds ₹25 crore penalty for regulatory violations